The CVICU exceeds the norm, and each member of this team has DAISY qualities. No matter how busy the unit may be, the team keeps a positive and collaborative environment. Every unit's culture is different, but the CVICU's culture revolves around the delivery of extraordinary, compassionate care. The CVICU has been through changes over the years, but one constant has been going above and beyond for families, patients, and staff members.
The CVICU has a way to empathize with the struggles of other team members, and they are often finding ways that they can help one another. For example, one of the environmental service workers was struggling with transportation to and from work. It was during the Christmas holiday season that the CVICU team decided to raise money to purchase a used car, pay for the tag, and pay for the first month's insurance. The car was given to this worker on Christmas Eve, and to this day she still has this car. The amount of joy that this project gave to the CVICU is not measurable, and the caring relationships that were formed are priceless.
This year, the CVICU team was caring for a medically complex child and mother that were homeless at the time. This was a prolonged admission for this child due to the discharge needs of the family. Needless to say, this team found multiple ways, too many to count, to go above and beyond. Many nurses would go to the cafeteria and purchase food for the child, just to make sure that he would eat and to lift his spirits. Because this patient was bed-bound, an IPAD was a major source of entertainment for him, but his IPAD would not hold a charge. A nurse, by working with the child life team, was able to get this child a new IPAD.
Not only did this child rely on this IPAD for entertainment, but it was his way to communicate because he was a tracheostomy and ventilator-dependent child. Communication and typing were becoming challenging because he was not able to see and did not have any glasses. Nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) were noticing the child's struggle with his vision. The child had a prescription for glasses, but the mother was never able to purchase them for him.
One CVICU nurse spent her lunch break working on ways to get glasses for this patient. By the end of her lunch break, she was able to work out a deal and the glasses were available for pick up. On her next day off, she surprised this patient by getting the glasses and bringing them to him. He was ecstatic.
If this was not enough, the child had a doggy that he loved so much, but the mother no longer had the means to keep him. The child was leaving for a wonderful foster home, but the doggy was not able to go. This was breaking the child's heart, and the CVICU nurse offered her own home for the puppy. Staff donated money for this nurse to update the dog's shots, grooming, and initial care. The dog is doing well, and after two months, the dog still remains in the care of the CVICU nurse.
The care of chronic children is not unique for the staff in the CVICU. The team had a chronic, long-term patient that was from a struggling family. One of our nurses and physicians purchased a new stroller so that the mother would have a way to transport her ventilator-dependent child. In another instance, a mother from out of the country was faced with the loss of her child while here. Several team members were able to professionally photograph this child and their mother before this child passed away. The mother was given a canvas of the child's pictures, and she was forever grateful for this gift.
In passing one day, a CNA came upon a fellow materials management employee that was not feeling well. This person confided to the CNA that he was struggling with purchasing food. Instinctively the CNA and assistant nurse manager gave him one hundred dollars to pay for his groceries for the week. The tears that flowed down his face showed how grateful he was for this gift. This same CNA noticed her fellow environmental service co-worker was yearning to obtain her high-school diploma. Through conversations, the CNA was not only able to help her obtain the tools necessary to take the General Education Development (GED) test, but she paid for the exam as well.
Not only do the CVICU nurses and CNAs demonstrate exceptional, caring, and compassionate care, but the physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other ancillary staff go above and beyond. The last several months have been extremely busy for the CVICU, and the physicians have spent extra time at the bedside updating and educating families, patients, and staff about the care that is being provided. One physician donated money for an XBOX for a child that was hospitalized for several months. This made this teenager so happy! The families are often commenting about how caring our entire team is, and this has included everyone.
Most recently, there has been a family that has been emotionally taxing on the staff because of how much the patient and family is loved. Physicians, nurses, surgeons, CNAs, anesthesiologists, and all other team members have spent extra time ensuring that the family understands the care that is being provided. When a child passes away, it is always tough for the entire CVICU team. Many of the team members grieve in different ways for several days and even longer. Many members attend the funerals of these children to show their support.
Recently, we had a chronic tracheostomy and ventilator dependent child pass away in the emergency department. One of the nurses drove in on her night off to sit with the grieving family in the emergency room. Not only this, but the mother did not have much support and asked this nurse to help her make decisions with her baby's funeral. The compassionate, empathetic care that this nurse showed for this family during their year hospital stay superseded all expectations. This nurse not only attended the funeral but she, as well as Wolfson Children's Hospital, was listed and given thanks in the funeral program.
Staff buying clothes for patients and ensuring that they have clean attire are actions that go unrecognized because it is second nature to this group of people. Adopting families for Christmas or providing holiday meals and experiences is an expectation of this group and is not considered anything special. Many members of the CVICU team are part of the Healing Hearts Organization, and one CVICU nurse is the chair for The Healing Heart's Project hospital services. This group provides care packages, day of surgery meals, and other support during and after a stay in the CVICU.
Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House as a team is just another "day out" for this group, and it brings them joy to give back to the community. Coming in extra to work to help during periods of high acuity is something that is done by the staff, including the nurse manager, who stays late and works extra hours to ensure that her staff is well taken care of. Working extra around or on the holidays to help out is frequently done as well, and the team members often sacrifice personal time for the patients and families in the CVICU.
The leadership team often hears staff members say they are working because they want to help their team out. The CVICU team is always busy because they are seeking opportunities to improve the patient experience. They take ownership and are accountable for the care that they provide. Each patient is treated like they are family. These stories could go on and on because of the special, caring group of people that make up the CVICU.
Congratulations CVICU on your extraordinary team-work and compassionate caring! Thank you for all you do for our patients, their families, and our team members. You are an inspiration to us all!